On cyclones entering the Baltic Sea region

Trends in the frequencies, durations, mean and minimum sea level pressures, and cyclone formation point sea level pressures of relatively strong (mean sea level pressure < 1000 hPa) cyclones entering the Baltic Sea region between 1948 and 2010 were subject to analysis. Incoming cyclones were divided into ten clusters based on their formation points using the k-means clustering method. Changes in cyclone activity were compared with the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Although the incoming cyclone frequency did not change over the study period, over time the incoming cyclones became significantly stronger as they approached the region. There is no reason at present to assume that more cyclones have begun to form in some clusters. Only weak correlations were found between the number of incoming cyclones and the North Atlantic Oscillation index. Nevertheless, the overall tendency was for fewer but stronger incoming cyclones when the North Atlantic Oscillation index was positive

Development of the Holocene foredune plain in the Narva-Jõesuu area, eastern Gulf of Finland

The morphogenesis and inner structure of the Holocene foredune plain in the Narva-Joesuu area, eastern Gulf of Finland, were studied using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) study and interpretation of airborne LIDAR elevation data. The results show that the Narva-Joesuu foredune plain consists of ca. 100 parallel coastal foredune ridges built of well-sorted fine sand underlain by gently (~7°) seaward-dipping sandy beach deposits. The distal part of the plain, which consists of at least 15 ridges, formed during the regressive phase of the Ancylus Lake/Early Litorina Sea, serving as a barrier for the lagoon behind it. A larger portion of ridges, with an average progradation rate of 0.26 m a-1, formed under conditions of falling relative sea level during the Litorina regression and was separated from the older foredune succession by a hiatus related to the Litorina transgression at 8.5-7.3 cal. ka BP. In the highest central part of the plain the foredune growth was interrupted by foredune instability and a re-blowing episode dated to 5.4 ± 0.9 ka BP which may correlate with a larger regional cooling at 5.8-5.1 cal. ka BP in the North Atlantic and central Europe. During the last 3000 years, the foredune progradation rate decreased to 0.19 m a-1, most probably because of decelerated land-uplift and increased human impact due to coastal protection

Inequalities and Segregation across the Long-Term Economic Cycle: An Analysis of South and North European Cities

The aim of this paper is to get new insight into the complex relationship between social inequalities and socioeconomic segregation by undertaking a comparative study North and South European cities. Our main finding shows that during the last global economic cycle from the 1980s through the 2000s, both levels of social inequalities and socio-economic segregation have grown. However, the effects of rising levels of inequality affect levels of segregation with a strong time lag. This reminds us that the effect of the most recent economic crisis will most likely be long-term, especially in the South of Europe.OLD Urban Renewal and Housin